I See What You Don't

Hive and Mind

     You are led towards a vast open area with a broad staircase to the direct left of you. It sat in the middle of the wall, leading upwards to a massive door the width of the stairs itself. A smaller room across from you was tucked away half hidden by the stairway. Marble pillars held the burden of a second floor decorated with banisters of some type of reddish wood. A beautiful red running carpet with a gold intricate border dressed the steps from beyond the doorway all the way below beside your feet. The floors were lavished with black and white tiles and ordained marbled patterns. Each piece of wood in the home albeit the stairs or otherwise were polished with a deep cherry-wood kiss. There was not one speck of dust settled on any part of the home. It was clear that Mother fully intended for it to stay pristine. The lighting from two 3-candle stick holders lit each half of the big room. The freshly polished golden metal legs beamed in the flickering lights. A few portraits of Mother's deceased family hung solemnly on her gaze.

     Mother stopped by the steps. She took out a single, bleached-white handkerchief from her bosom and slowly wiped a crack in-between the handrails of the staircase. Spotless. Her teeth clicked a single time in surprise, but also in satisfaction. Whomever was hired for this portion of the house has met her standards for today. Mother routinely refolded the cloth and tucked it away once more. She turned slowly towards you and your sisters, she gestured royally with her left hand towards the large door behind her.

"This, " She began, "Is the door to the Main Hall. If and when "-- She made sure to open her eyes wider at each of you directly upon the word 'when'-- "I call upon you, you shall meet me here. If you do not meet me there immediately, please do remember that I know every inch of this castle and that I take very large strides."

     You could not help a giggle that surpassed your throat and any last filter of judgement. You had known the situation was most likely inappropriate to laugh at, but the way Mother said she would practically hunt you down if you did not respond to her every beck-and-call was quite funny to you. However, Mother did not find this as entertaining as you apparently did. Her hand immediately fell flat at her side and she took one large step in your direction. You had not experienced your mother figure in all of her glory yet. The woman towered over you easily by three feet, if not half a foot more. Her red lips pursed for a moment before relaxing entirely. However, her eyebrows still froze in a flash of silent fury. Her chest rose once, and only once, in a long calming breath before turning away from you to place a large foot on the bottom step. She ascended without another word.

     A familiar buzzing entered your head the same way as before. You prepared yourself this time for whatever nonsense Cassandra was going to scream at you. You looked towards your brunette sister. Her yellow eyes seethed with anger at the disrespect you had shown Mother. She shook her head at you before quickly following behind the white dress leaving your view. A voice that was most certainly not Cassandra spoke to you directly. It was much softer than the harshness from before. You looked around for the speaker, only to find your older other-part.

-- "You need to do better about controlling your emotional impulses, Little One." --

     Bela walked over to you with one eyebrow cocked, testing if you had heard her sisterly advice. A firm hand was placed on your still bare right shoulder. She was so warm; both in temperature and in demeanor. You could feel her care towards you. The bond was strong between you already. You had full trust in the girl before you. She rubbed your arm softly up and down for she too did not understand her body yet.

"Mother will forgive you, but she will expect you to learn quickly," Bela spoke eloquently.

You placed your hand on top of her own that was still gripped gently on your bicep. You squeezed her slender fingers in understanding.